PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

HUMAN SURVIVAL PROJECT

B-52S: - PAINTING A TARGET ON AUSTRALIA'S BACKSIDE

NUCLEAR-CAPABLE B52 BOMBERS WILL BE A TARGET FOR CHINA, RUSSIA, DPRK

Nuclear-capable B-52 bombers at Tindal Airforce Base south of Darwin, (or in any other location for that matter), will be a high-priority target for Chinese, Russian, or DPRK nuclear – tipped missiles, making Australia less rather than more secure, and potentially putting Australian cities also at risk. This at a time when nuclear war has moved from a threat of the past, to an academic possibility, and now to a real and terrifying imminent threat.

While it may seem 'obvious' that aggression from Russia and China must be countered or pushed back on, doing so doesn't solve the problem – rather it leads to an ever-increasing spiral of push and counter-push that culminates potentially at least, in utter catastrophe.

Something more is needed that breaks the vicious spiral.

Australia will now have at least three high-priority nuclear targets on its soil: Pine Gap, Northwest Cape, and now Tindal.

The question will be whether in addition, China, or Russia are likely to target Australian cities. Targeting Australian cities would of course be entirely retaliatory: Though some military capabilities are located within cities, the main nuclear command and control facilities and military bases are outside them. The idea would be to hold Australia's population hostage.

Australia has become trapped in a cycle of action – reaction – escalation, and no thought seems to be being given as to how, exactly, to get OFF the 'up' escalator.

China's diplomacy may have morphed from 'win-win', to 'wolf warrior'. It is an unfortunate change to put it mildly.

B-52s on Australian soil may simply up the ante for further rounds of escalation.

The ultimate escalation is of course global thermonuclear war. B-52s at Tindal will merely be another factor that ensures Australia will not be spared.

John Hallam

Nuclear Disarmament Campaigner,

People for Nuclear Disarmament

Human Survival Project

Co-Convenor, Abolition 2000 Nuclear Risk Reduction Working Group

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